MATCH-FIXERS will be jailed for up to 10 years under new laws to protect Victoria's lucrative sports industry.
Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty told question time on Tuesday that the state government would introduce match-fixing laws this week.
The laws, which have been months in the making, are aligned with laws already enacted in NSW and being introduced in South Australia.
Premier Ted Baillieu, facing controversy over secret recordings from a former staffer, said an individual found guilty of match fixing would face a maximum prison term of 10 years.
“Anyone who attempts to manipulate professional sport for betting outcomes is a cheat and they will be caught and punished under these tough new laws,” Mr Baillieu said.
The laws targets people who attempt to engage in match fixing, race fixing and spot fixing. Spot fixing is manipulating moments in a match, such as a deliberate no-ball at a specific time in cricket or first goal kicker in football.
The government said the bill aimed to outlaw four key types of offences:
- Engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome.
- Facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome.
- Concealing such conduct, agreements or arrangements.
- Use of corrupt information for betting purposes.
The gradual introduction of state-based anti corruption laws follows a 2011 agreement between the Commonwealth and states to crackdown on match-fixing.
Minister for Racing Denis Napthine said the new match fixing legislation implemented one of the key recommendations outlined in the Racing Integrity Commissioner's recent own motion investigation into race fixing.